FABBS Statement on Administration’s Order Banning People from Seven Muslim-Majority Countries

The Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences calls on President Trump to rescind the Executive Order, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” As an organization representing the concerns of numerous scientific societies, we value the exchange of Ideas and knowledge across borders.

The United States has benefitted from the contributions of scholars and students from countries around the world. We are therefore, very concerned that the Executive Order, as understood and implemented, is resulting in the detention of faculty and students who have valid student visas, work visas, or even green cards. In addition, the Executive Order is having a chilling effect on international faculty and students who are currently in the U.S. but fear that travel abroad to collect data, work in labs, or attend conferences could result in being permanently banned from our shores.

America needs the best minds, working together, to ensure our leadership in the world. Sharing ideas and working with scientists across the globe is itself a vehicle for sharing American values, and should be promoted. FABBS is committed to showing the world that we value the contributions of all people, regardless of their national origin.

While we share the goal of ensuring the nation’s security, we encourage the Administration to pursue alternate means of achieving that goal. We ask that the Administration rescind this Executive Order and identify policies narrowly targeted to the threats that the nation faces, and that respect the immigrants and non‐immigrant visitors who travel to America and work alongside us to advance knowledge, promote discovery, and identify solutions to the many challenges faced by our nation and the world.